Electronic device connectable to network and method of information acquisition of the same

ABSTRACT

An electronic device connectable to a network comprises the communicators&#39; address table  8  in which communication address information of the network server  17  was entered, the setting memory section  13  memorizing an information verification cycle verifying update circumstances of an information, the network access control section  5  controlling accesses between the network  1  and the relevant electronic device, the updating information control section  11  communicating with the network server  17  which is located in a communication address memorized in the communicators&#39; address table  8  on the basis of an information verification cycle memorized in the setting memory section  13  and verifying and controlling update circumstances of an information, and the means  18  for communicating with the network server  17  in the case where an information updated was verified in the updating information control section  11  and acquiring the information.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application is a continuation under 37 C.F.R.§1.53(b) of prior application Ser. No. 09/182,362 filed Oct. 29, 1998,by Kazuya Torikai entitled ELECTRONIC DEVICE CONNECTABLE TO NETWORK ANDMETHOD OF INFORMATION ACQUISITION OF THE SAME.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to an electronic device such as anetwork connected printer and a method of information acquisition toupdate information for controlling basic device operation.

[0003] In other words, the invention relates to an apparatus and amethod by which a network-connected device such as a printer canindependently initiate downloading and updating of basic controlinformation such as printer drivers, printing font and the like.

[0004] Conventionally, network printers provide job processinginformation such as job ending time and queue time and the like for onewho demands a printing operation. There is an example of a conventionalnetwork connecting printer device disclosed in Japanese UnexaminedPatent Publication No.7-76155.

[0005] A conventional printer device disclosed in this JapaneseUnexamined Patent Publication will be described by using FIG. 10. If ajob programmed in an operation display section 101 or a job sent from anetwork client is added to a printing queue 116, a job processing timeand a job ending time required for printing is calculated in a mainprocessor section 114 on the basis of a job programming condition, thenumber of document image pages and data compression rate information ofeach page. If a job is sent from the printing queue 116 to a printingoutputting section 105, a printing processor section 118 updatesprinting ending time of the job within the printing queue 116. Since aqueue time until printing ending of each job resulting from thesecalculations is displayed on the display section 101, one who demandsprinting can be advised the time when the job will be completed on thespot or by telephone contact.

[0006] Moreover, as other examples of network connecting printerdevices, the followings are known.

[0007] A printer device controller connected to a network disclosed inJapanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.7-121322 is characterized inthat it acquires static performance information (e.g.; resolution, sheetsize, color available or color not available or the like) indicatingattribute information of the printer device and dynamic performanceinformation (e.g.; priming queue job information within queue of theprinter device or the like) from a plurality of printer devices on thenetwork and only demand for printing from a user makes the desiredprinter device automatically chosen by a host computer (workstation)perform a printing.

[0008] A printer device connecting to a network disclosed in Japaneseunexamined Patent Publication No.7-334323 is characterized in that aprinting server is provided with the means for transmitting variouskinds of function setting files to a printer device to change settings.

[0009] In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.8-328781, aworkstation on a network controls a printer device connected on thenetwork. Moreover, as control information, there are informationindicating printing setting for printing processing, selection items andoperation circumstances at present and the like.

[0010] A network printer device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined PatentPublication No.9-6557 is characterized in that it can change from aprinter device for outputting to another printer device for outputtingthrough a simple operation on a display of a workstation demandingprinting in order to determine a plurality of printer devices foroutputting connected on the network. More particularly, it has the meansfor ascertaining composition of a printer device that a user desires anddetermining a printer device by acquiring a printing indication settinginformation from a plurality of printer devices on the network anddisplaying printing indication operation panel on the display of theworkstation. Furthermore, a corresponding printer driver on the side ofworkstation is selected in accordance with the selected printer devicefor outputting and printing data is transferred to the printer device.

[0011] A network printer device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined PatentPublication No.9-114615 is characterized in that it has communicatingmeans for verifying functions that a plurality of printer devicesconnected on the network have. More particularly, printer deviceinternally maintains function information in advance, sends backinternally maintained information responding to a demand for aninformation from a host device. The host device selects a printer deviceby analyzing received information.

[0012] However, all of these conventional network printer devicesperform selecting and controlling printing means and printing methods orprinter devices for outputting. Conventionally, there was no existenceof a network printer device having self-control of basic printeroperating functions, such as printer drivers, firmware, font cards andthe like. In other words, network printers have not been able toindependently initiate an online search for downloadable informationsuch as updated drivers, printer fonts etc. or other information tosupport printer operation (hereafter, collectively referred to as“printer utilities”.) Thus, there were problems in conventional networkprinter devices indicated as follows.

[0013] Firstly, a problem is that there is no means for automaticallyacquiring update circumstances of printer utilities. The reason is thatit has been necessary for an administrator to consciously make someeffort to learn update circumstances of printer utilities.

[0014] Secondly, another problem is that printers have only had displaysections as a means for acknowledging to the administrator that printerutilities have been updated. The reason why is that a printer device hasno means for transmitting information by itself to the administrator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] An objective of the present invention is to solve these problemsbefore mentioned.

[0016] It is a further objective of the present invention to provide forautomatic acquisition by a printer of updated printer utilities andreporting of the update to the administrator. Another objective of thepresent invention is to automatically acquire updated printer utilitiesby a printer itself.

[0017] The present invention is an electronic device such as a networkprinter which is capable of independently connecting to a network toaccess a network server and to download updated printer utilities fromthe server.

[0018] Moreover, the objective above described is achieved by providinga communicators' address table into which communication addressinformation is entered, a setting memory section memorizing informationverification cycle verifying update circumstances of an information, anetwork access control section controlling accesses between the networkand the present invention, an updating information control sectioncommunicating with the network server located in a communication addressmemorized in a communicators' address table and verifying andcontrolling update circumstances of an information on the basis of aninformation verification cycle memorized in setting memory sectionthrough the medium of the network access control section, and means forcommunicating with the network server located in a communication addressmemorized in the communicators' address table and acquiring information.

[0019] Moreover, the present invention is an electronic device such as anetwork printer capable of connecting to a remote network server, andthe present invention is applied to a method of information acquisitionby the printer of utilities which are maintained in the server fordownloading.

[0020] Furthermore, the objective above described is achieved byacquiring the information in the case where an information updated wasverified as well as communicating with a network server on the basis ofan information verification cycle verifying update circumstances of aninformation end verifying and controlling update circumstances of aninformation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] This and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent upon a reading of the followingdetailed description and drawings, in which:

[0022]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a constitution of an embodimentof the present invention,

[0023]FIG. 2 is a detail block diagram of the communicators' addresstable of FIG. 1,

[0024]FIG. 3 is a detail block diagram of the administrator informationregistration section and the acknowledging means memory section of FIG.1,

[0025]FIG. 4 is a detail block diagram of the information control tableof FIG. 1,

[0026]FIG. 5 is a detail block diagram of the setting memory section ofFIG. 1,

[0027]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of a preprocess performingupdating work,

[0028]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process of updating verificationprocessing of information,

[0029]FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process of result acknowledgingprocess to the administrator,

[0030]FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process of a request process ofdata updating, and

[0031]FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a constitution of an example ofthe prior art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Next, the embodiment of the present invention will be describedin detail with reference to the drawings.

[0033]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a networkprinter device to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, anembodiment of the present invention includes a network communicationsection 30 comprised of a network access control section 5 forconnecting with a network 1, information update verification section 31for pre-setting an updating verification information controlled in aninformation control table 14 and periodically verifying whether there isan information updated or not, and an information updating section 32for updating printer utilities on the basis of update informationmaintained in an update information memory section 19. The currentprinter utilities are maintained by an administrator for a network orthe original developer of the printer device on the network server 17.The information may be maintained, for example, on an FTP site, a website or the like for downloading over network 1.

[0034] The network communication section 30 includes the network accesscontrol section 5 for requiring information expected to receive from thenetwork server 17 by using a network communication protocol forperforming information communication with the network server 17 via thenetwork 1 and a network server access protocol for receiving informationcontrolled in a printer device of the embodiment of the presentinvention from the network server 17 and interpreting receivedinformation, and a mail distribution control section 6 for distributinginformation by using a mail communication protocol for distributinginformation by electronic mail to the administrator for printer devices.Among network communication protocols, there are, for example, TCP/IP(Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) protocol and the like.Moreover, among network server access protocols, for example, HTTP(Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) protocol or FTP (File Transfer Protocol)protocol and the like.

[0035] The information updating verification section 31 includes acommunicators' address table 8 for maintaining communication addressinformation of a plurality of the network servers 17, an informationcontrol table 14 where control printer utilities are controlled andstored, an updating information control section 11 for updating andcontrolling control information within the information control table 14on the basis of information received from the network access controlsection 5, an administrator information registration section 9 formaintaining information of the administrator for printer devices, andacknowledgment memory section 10 for storing a reporting routine and forreporting to the administrator when a utility has been updated.

[0036] Communicators' address table 8 shown in FIG. 2 contains data foreach updatable printer utility. The data includes identification of theutility, the address, e.g., the URL of a network server 17 from whichthe utility is available, and a memory flag indicating if an a newutility has been posted on server 17 since the last time the informationstored in memory section 19 was updated. In the illustrated example,data concerning three utilities are recorded: a printer driver (item 1),firmware for connecting the printer device to network 1 (item 2), andprinting plotting control firmware (item 3).

[0037] The administrator information registration section 9, as shown inFIG. 3, is comprised of the name of the administrator and theadministrator's acknowledgment address. Moreover, the acknowledgmentmemory section 10, as shown in FIG. 3, stores an acknowledgment settingflag to indicate how acknowledgment is to be sent to the administratorfor printer devices when an information of control objective is updated.In the illustrated example, four flag states (“not acknowledge”,“acknowledgment by electronic mail”, “acknowledgment by printing output”and “acknowledgment by electronic mail and by printing output”) areprovided.

[0038] The information control table 14 is, as shown in FIG. 4,comprised of utility identification data, update dates of information onthe network server 17, access dates when a printer device of the presentinvention last accessed the network server, a start address within theupdate information memory section 19 in the case where controlinformation is memorized in the update information memory section 19described later and a data length indicating an information amount of aninformation.

[0039] The update information control section 11 is a controllingsection which gives a direction of information verification indicationaccording to an information verification cycle stored in the settingmemory section 13 to an information maintained in the informationcontrol table 14 and performs updating an information of the informationcontrol table 14.

[0040] The setting memory section 13 is, as shown in FIG. 5, comprisedof an update need-or-not flag indicating if a utility information updateis needed or not, update start month-year information indicating anupdate start month-year, a numeric value of an update verification cycleand an information indicating its cycle unit. Moreover, the settingmemory section 13 has also a timer 12 having a built-in calendarfunction for the update information control section 11 giving adirection of information verification indication.

[0041] The information updating section 32 has an information updatingprocessing section 18 for performing updating processing of informationin the case of honoring an information update demand involving with theinside of a printer device from the administrator for printer devicesand the update information memory section 19 for maintaining updateinformation.

[0042] In addition, the illustrated embodiment has the communicators'address table 8, the administrator information registration section 9,the acknowledgment memory section 10 and a setting updating section 16for changing a setting of the setting memory section 13. The settingupdating section 16 provides, for example, inputting means such asoperator's panel having input keys incorporated in the printer device ora separate input device to change a setting by a software settingcommand or the like. Moreover, as a means for acknowledging to theadministrator by printing output, a printing outputting section 15 maybe employed.

[0043] Next, referring to block diagrams from FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 andflowcharts from FIG. 6 to FIG. 9, operations of the network printerdevice of the invention will be described in detail below.

[0044] Firstly, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 6, the procedures ofpreprocess in which an updating work of printer utilities is performedwill be described in detail below.

[0045] The flowchart of FIG. 6 is executed after power-up of the primerdevice or after a herd reset without power-up. First, the settingupdating section 16 determines whether printer utility updateinformation stored in the communicators' address table 8. If not, theprocess terminates (step A8).

[0046] In the example of the communicators' address table 8 of FIG. 2,three (3) items are stored. Information of printer driver (“PrinterDriver”) to be incorporated in a client computer at the time of printingis memorized in the item 1, information of a firmware program (“LANF/W”) of the network communication control section including the networkcommunication section 30 which is necessary at the time of networkconnection of the printer device is memorized in the item 2, andinformation of a firmware program (“Printer F/W”) of the printingplotting control section including the printing outputting section 15 ismemorized in the item 3, respectively.

[0047] After verifying that at least one item is stored in address table8, the setting memory section 13 in which an updating cycle of itsinformation is stored is referred to (Step A3). In the setting memorysection 13, as shown in FIG. 5, an update need-or-not flag, an updateverification start month-date and a cycle information are stored foreach utility having a corresponding item stored in address table 8. AtStep A4, the update need-or-not flag is examined. In the case where anupdate need-or-not flag is 0×01, updating the corresponding utility isexpected is indicated. Moreover, in the case where an update need-or-notflag is 0×01, updating is not needed is indicated, and that informationupdate verification processing is not executed, and the process shiftsto Step A7 described below.

[0048] In the case where an update need-or-not flag is 0×01,subsequently, an update start month-date and an updating cycle for autility are referred to (Step A5). In update start month-dateinformation, a month-date-year of which an updating verification isstarted to execute is inputted. In the case of executing en updatingverification on the same-day, as shown in the item 1 of FIG. 5, aspecification of a month-date-year is set as a 00/00/00. As for a cycle,by a unit specification of minute, hour, date and month, a cyclerepeating updating process is set.

[0049] On the basis of an update start month-date and a cycleinformation, the updating information control section 11 performs asetting of a timer interrupt of an updating cycle by utilizing aself-contained timer with calendar function (Step A6). By setting thistimer interrupt, an interrupt request which promotes update verificationof an information of control objective is generated at the time when itis set in an updating cycle. Since a timer interrupt setting in anupdating cycle is performed to all of the control information memorizedin the communicators' address table 8, it is repeated until a settingfor all of the information is completed (Step A7). The process thenterminates (Step A8).

[0050] Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 7, the process ofperforming updating control information will be described in detailbelow.

[0051] By setting a timer interrupt in an updating cycle executed atStep A6 of FIG. 6, whether or not an interrupt request is generated atthe time when an updating verification cycle is set in is determined(Step B1). When an interrupt is detected, the source of the interrupt,i.e., the particular utility items stored in address table 8 and settingmemory section 13, is verified (Step B2).

[0052] Next, address table 8 is accessed, and the address of the networkserver 17 associated with the interrupt request is loaded (Steps B3 andB4). For example, if an interrupt request related to item 1 (PrinterDriver) was generated, in Step B4, the network server address for item1, i.e., ftp://ftp.printer.driver1.nec.cojp is loaded (see FIG. 2).

[0053] Subsequently, network access control section 5 is executed to logon to the network server 17 for item 1 (Step B5). Specifically, networkaccess control section 30 verifies update circumstances of controlinformation to the item 1 network server 17 via the network 1 using thenetwork server access protocol and network communication protocol usingthe address of the item 1 network server 17 acquired in Step B4.

[0054] Whether or not a response is sent back from the network server 17in response to an update verification request of a communicator'saddress “ftp://ftp.printer.driver1.nec.co.jp”. to the network server ofin FIG. 2 is determined at Step B6. If a response is received from thenetwork server 17 for item 1, the network access control section 5transfers the received information to the updating information controlsection 11. The updating information control section 11 refers to thereceived data and verifies the revision date of the utility, i.e., thePrinter Driver maintained in the network server 17 at Step B7 (Step B9).

[0055] If the two dates are the same, there is no new or revised versionof the printer driver available. In that case, the last access date forthe item (1) network server is updated in information control table 14(Step B16), but the last revision date stored in information controltable 14 is not updated. If the revision date for the utility availableon network server 17 is later than the last revision date stored ininformation control table 14, this indicates that a new or updatedprinter driver is available. In that case, both the last revision dateand the last access date stored in information control table 14 areupdated (Step B10).

[0056] Next, the process and the procedure for determining whether ornot to save an updated utility downloaded from network server 17 in theupdate information memory section 19 will be described. First, a memoryflag for item 1 in address table 8 (See FIG. 2) is accessed (Step B11).

[0057] In the case where a memory flag is set, that is to say, the flagis “1”, an updated utility is downloaded from the network server 17 andstored in the update information memory section 19. If the memory flagis not set, that is to say, the flag is 0, only an updated is verifiedbut the utility stored on the server is not downloaded (Step B12).

[0058] In an example of a Printer Driver information of the item 1 ofaddress table 8 in FIG. 2, the memory flag value is “1”. Thus, thenetwork access control section 5 makes a request that the updated driverbe downloaded. The procedure is the same as for verifying an updatecircumstances of the item 1 to the network server 17 as described inconnection with step B5 above.

[0059] On the basis of the request, an updated Printer Driver isdownloaded from the network server 17 at Step B13. The received data isstored to the update information memory section 19 by the informationupdating processing section 18 (Step B14). Then, the stored data is sentfrom the information updating processing section 18 to the updatinginformation control section 11. The information sent from theinformation processing section 18 to the updating information controlsection 11 is a start address on the memory map of the data stored inthe update information memory section 19 and a data length indicatingthe size of a data. In order to store these information, as shown inFIG. 4, the updating information control section 11 stores a startaddress information and a data length in the information control table14 (Step B15).

[0060] Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 8, in the case where aprinter utility was updated, the process by which this is acknowledgedto the administrator for printer devices will be described in detailbelow.

[0061] First, an acknowledgment setting flag of the acknowledgmentmemory section 10 shown in FIG. 3 is verified (Step C1 and Step C2). Inan example of FIG. 3, a setting value is defined with one byteinformation. In the case where a value of an acknowledgment setting flagis 0×00, it is defined that update circumstances of control informationis not to be acknowledged to the administrator for printer devices.Thus, whether the value of the acknowledgment setting flag is 0×00 ornot is determined (Step C3).

[0062] If the acknowledgment setting flag is not 0×00, in an example ofFIG. 3, if a value is 0×01, it is defined that “acknowledgment ofcircumstances by electronic mail” to the administrator for printerdevices is performed, if a value is 0×02, it is defined that“acknowledgment of circumstances by printing output” to theadministrator for printer devices is performed, and if a value is 0×03,it is defined that “concurrent use of acknowledgment of circumstances byelectronic mail and acknowledgment of circumstances by printing output”to the administrator for printer devices is performed, respectively.

[0063] In the case where a setting value of an acknowledgment settingflag is 0×01, the administrator's acknowledgment address of theadministrator information registration section 9 shown in FIG. 3 isreferred to (Step C4 and Step C5). Here, an electronic mail address ofthe administrator for printer devices is stored. Thus, the data controlsection 7 sets inside information output switch over in an electronicmail distribution, the administrator's acknowledgment addressinformation of the administrator information registration section 9 istransferred to the electronic mail distribution control section 6 (StepC6). The electronic mail distribution control section 6 acknowledgesthat the utility was updated to the administrator for primer devicesusing mail distribution protocol and network communication protocol viathe network 1 on the basis of the received administrator'sacknowledgment address information by electronic mail (Step C7).

[0064] In the case where a setting value of an acknowledgment settingflag is 0×02, the name of the administrator of the administratorinformation registration section 9 shown in FIG. 3 is referred to (StepC4 and Step C9). Here, identification information such as the name ofthe administrator for printer devices and the like is stored so that adistribution address of printing output materials can be identified with“acknowledgment of circumstances by printing output”. Thus, a datacontrol section 7 sets an inside information output switch over inprinting output. Moreover, to print out the administrator identificationinformation of printing devices registered in the name of theadministrator of the administrator information registration section 9 isindicated, and that control information was updated is sent as data tothe printing outputting section 15 and acknowledged by printing output(Step C10 and Step C11).

[0065] In the case where a setting value of an acknowledgment settingflag is 0×03, an acknowledgment of circumstances from Step C9 and StepC11 by printing output in addition to an acknowledgment of circumstancesfrom Step C5 to Step C7 by electronic mail is carried out (Step C8).

[0066] Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 9, the process in thecase where a utility update is initiated by the administrator forprinter devices on the basis of an information of control objective willbe described in detail below.

[0067] Whether or not an information updating request from theadministrator for printer devices was received is verified at Step D1.An information request from the administrator is directed through themedium of the network communication section 30 via the network 1. AtStep D2, the particular printer utility for which the data updatingrequest has been directed is determined by the network access controlsection 5.

[0068] Next, to determine whether data requested for updating is alreadystored in the update information memory section or not, the networkaccess control section 5 refers to a memory flag of the address table 8shown in FIG. 2 (Step D2 and Step D3). In the case where a memory flagis “1”, an update for the utility in question is already stored in theupdate information memory section 19 in the process from Step B12 toStep B14 of the flowchart of FIG. 7 is shown. Moreover, in the casewhere a memory flag is “0”, since an available utility update has notbeen downloaded from the network server 17, first of all, it isnecessary to download the requested utility update from the networkserver 17 (Steps D6 through D8).

[0069] Hereinafter, referring to a case of the item 3 (Printer F/W)within the communicators' address table 8 of FIG. 2, an explanation willbe described. As referring to a memory flag of the communicators'address table 8, a memory flag for the item 3 is “0”. Thus, since datarequired for updating is not stored in the update information memorysection 19, it must be downloaded from the network server 17. First,referring to a communicator's address of the communicators' addresstable 8 shown in FIG. 2, an address information is acquired (Step D6).The procedure of data acquisition and storage to the update informationmemory section is the same as the procedure from Step B13 to Step B15 ofthe flowchart of FIG. 7. In this example, there is a difference in thatthe network server 17 to access is a server including an information ofthe item 3 (Printer F/W) (Step D8 and Step D9).

[0070] Data updating processing is started in a state where datarequested for updating is stored in the update information memorysection 19. The information updating processing section 18 receives datarequested for updating from the update information memory section 19.The relevant data, which are an address and a data length stored in theupdate information memory section 19, is received from the updateinformation memory section 19 with reference to a start address and adata length of the information control table 14 in FIG. 4 (Step D10).Next, updating data of a printer device requested is executed (StepD11). For example, in the case where an updating request for the item 2(LAN F/W) of the communicators' address table 8 in FIG. 2 was receivedfrom the administrator, an updating of a firmware program of the networkcommunication control section which is necessary at the time ofconnecting printer devices including the network communication section30 to the network is carried out. Moreover, in the case where anupdating request to the item 3 (Printer F/W) was received from theadministrator, an updating of a firmware program of the printingplotting control section including the printing outputting section 15 iscarried out. In this embodiment of the present invention, the procedureof updating data is not claimed per se.

[0071] Whether an updating of data requested was normally and completelyexecuted or not is verified, and in the case where the updating was notcompleted, an updating processing is executed again by returning to StepD10 (Step D12). When the updating of data requested is normallycompleted, a completion acknowledgment is sent to the administrator forprinter devices who requested the updating. A completion acknowledgmentto the administrator depends upon a setting value of an acknowledgmentsetting flag of the acknowledging means setting memory section 10 shownin FIG. 3. The procedure of acknowledgment is the same as the proceduredescribed in the flowchart of FIG. 8 (from Step D13 to Step D15).

[0072] Thus, according to this embodiment of the present invention, thefollowing effects can be obtained.

[0073] The first effect which can be obtained according to the presentinvention is that updated printer utilities can be automatically andperiodically downloaded without action by the administrator. The reasonis that this embodiment of the present invention comprises an addresstable for memorizing information of the network server maintained aplurality of optional data and the updating information control sectionfor periodically verifying information.

[0074] The second effect which can be obtained according to thisembodiment of the present invention is not only that update printerutilities can be downloaded, but also that acknowledgment can beprovided to the administrator for printer devices in the sole case wherethe information was updated. As information providing means, it enablesto send an electronic mail or to print output in printer devices. Thereason why is that it comprises the information control table andenables to compare a revision date of a received information with anupdate date controlled within a control table end verify them. Moreover,as acknowledging means, by having the electronic mail distributioncontrol section, it enables to not only acknowledge to the administratorby printing output, but also acknowledge to the administrator byelectronic mail.

[0075] The third effect which can be obtained according to the presentinvention is taht updates for printer utilities can also be obtainedaccording to an instruction from the administrator. The reason is thatit has the information updating processing section and the updateinformation memory section for maintaining necessary data for updatingdata such as programs and the like within printer devices.

[0076] Furthermore, it should be noted that as for an electronic deviceconnectable to the network of the present invention, its details are notlimited by an embodiment of the present invention described above,various alternations of them are possible. As an example, thecommunicators' address table 8 is used for storing information relatedto printer utilities, but the information stored is not necessarily solimited. For example, in the case where the network server 17 of fixedaddress maintaining a certain data exists, a communicator's address ofthis network server 17 can be also stored in the communicators' addresstable S. As an example of FIG. 2, although the item 1 printer Driver. isan information involving with printer devices, since it is notapplicable to data such as firmware programs of printer devices and thelike, the present invention is adapted to a use for verifying updatecircumstances and receiving data of “Printer Driver”. A data verifiedupdating of information and received from the network server 17 also canbe similarly maintained in the update information memory section 19.

[0077] Since data of “Printer Driver” stored in the update informationmemory section 19 is not a use for internal printer device, a datareceiving request for its data is honored by the way of the network 1from the computer of the administrator connected to the network 1,according to its direction, data stored in the update information memorysection 19 becomes to be distributed. Also in this case, the informationupdating processing section 18 enables to perform distribution of datastored in the network access control section 5 and in the updateinformation memory section 19 by the way of a network communicationprotocol 2.

[0078] Furthermore, while the above described embodiment is described asapplied to printer devices, the invention is not limited to thisapplication. Other electronic devices such as facsimile devices and thelike which are connectable to a network may also be employed.

[0079] As described above in detail, according to the present invention,it enables to acquire information involving with an electronic devicesuch as a printer device and the like by itself and acknowledge updatecircumstances to the administrator. Moreover, it can acquire informationinvolving with electronic devices and update data within the electronicdevices.

[0080] The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 9-316086filed on Nov. 1, 1997 including specification, claims, drawing andsummary are incorporated herein by reference.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device Constituted so as to begconnectable to a network to which a network servers connected, saidnetwork server which is capable of maintaining any information aboutsaid electronic device connected to said network in a state where saidinformation can be updated, said electronic device connectable to saidnetwork comprising: a communicators address table in which communicationaddress information of said network server was memorized; a settingmemory section memorizing an information verification cycle-verifyingupdate circumstances of said information; a network access controlsection controlling an access between said network and said relevantelectronic device; an updating information control section communicatingwith said network server located in a communication address memorized insaid communicators address table through use of said network accesscontrol section based on an information verification cycle memorized insaid setting memory section and verifying and controlling updatecircumstances of an information about said electronic device; and meansfor communicating with said network server located in a communicationaddress memorized in said communicators address table through use ofsaid network access control section and acquiring said information in acase where an information about said electronic device updated wasverified in said updating information control section.
 2. An electronicdevice connectable to a network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein saidelectronic device has a first information control table in which anaccess date of an information about said electronic device and an updatedate of an information about said electronic device processed by saidupdating information control section were memorized.
 3. An electronicdevice connectable to a network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein saidelectronic device has an update information memory section memorizing anacquired information about said electronic device, and a secondinformation control table memorizing memory addresses and data sizes ofsaid update information memory section.
 4. An electronic deviceconnectable to a network as claimed in claim 1 , said electronic devicecomprising: an administrator information registration section memorizingan identification information and an electronic mail address of anadministrator for said electronic device; an electronic maildistribution section distributing update circumstances of saidinformation to an electronic mail address of an administrator memorizedin said administrator information registration section; and a printingoutputting section printing update circumstances of said information aswell as an identification information of an administrator memorized insaid administrator information registration section, wherein an updatecircumstances acknowledgment setting of said information set by saidelectronic mail distribution section and said printing outputtingsection is memorized in said administrator information registrationsection, end said electronic device has a control section making atleast one of said electronic mail distribution section and said printingoutputting section acknowledge update circumstances of said informationbased on an update circumstances acknowledgment setting memorized insaid administrator information registration section.
 5. An electronicdevice connectable to a network as claimed in claim 4 , wherein saidelectronic device has an information updating processing sectionupdating said information by using an information memorized in saidupdate information memory section in accordance with a direction of saidadministrator.
 6. An electronic device connectable to a network asclaimed in claim 1 , wherein said electronic device is a primer device.7. An electronic device connectable to a network as claimed in claim 6 ,wherein information about said electronic device are programs such as aprinter driver and a firmware only for printer devices.
 8. An electronicdevice constituted so as to be connectable to a network to which anetwork server is connected, said network server which is capable ofmaintaining an information about said electronic device connected tosaid network in a state where said information can be updated, saidelectronic device connectable to said network comprising: acommunicators address table in which communication address informationof said network server was memorized; a setting memory sectionmemorizing an information verification cycle verifying updatecircumstances of said information; a network access control sectioncontrolling an access between said network and said relevant electronicdevice; a first information control table in which an access date of aninformation about said electronic device and an update date of aninformation about said electronic device were memorized; an updateinformation control section communicating with said network serverlocated in a communication address memorized in said communicatorsaddress table through use of said network access control section basedon an information verification cycle memorized in said setting memorysection and verifying and controlling update circumstances of aninformation about said electronic device based on an access date andupdate date memorized in said first information control table; means forcommunicating with said network server located in a communicationaddress memorized in said communicators address table through use ofsaid network access control section and acquiring an information aboutsaid electronic device in a case where an information about saidelectronic device updated was verified in said updating informationcontrol section; an update information memory section memorizing anacquired information about said electronic device; and a secondinformation control table memorizing memory addresses and data sizes ofsaid update information memory section.
 9. An electronic deviceconnectable to a network as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said electronicdevice is a primer device.
 10. An electronic device connectable to anetwork as claimed in claim 9 , wherein information about saidelectronic device are programs such as a printer driver and a firmwareonly for printer devices.
 11. An electronic device constituted so as tobe connectable to a network to which a network server is connected, saidnetwork server which is capable of maintaining an information about saidelectronic device connected to said network in a state where saidinformation can be updated, said electronic device connectable to saidnetwork comprising: a communicators address table in which communicationaddress information of said network server was memorized; a settingmemory section memorizing an information verification cycle verifyingupdate circumstances of said information; a network access controlsection controlling an access between said network and said relevantelectronic device; an updating information control section communicatingwith said network server located in a communication address memorized insaid communicators address table through use of said network accesscontrol section teased on an information verification cycle memorized insaid setting memory section and verifying and controlling updatecircumstances of an information about said electronic device; means forcommunicating with said network server located in a communicationaddress memorized in said communicators address table through use ofsaid network access control section and acquiring said information in acase where an information about said electronic device updated wasverified in said updating information control section; an administratorinformation registration section memorizing an identificationinformation and an electronic address of an administrator for saidelectronic device; an electronic mail distribution section distributingupdate circumstances of said information to an electronic mail addressof an administrator memorized in said administrator informationregistration section; and a printing outputting section printing updatecircumstances of said information as well as an identificationinformation of an administrator memorized in said administratorinformation registration section, wherein an update circumstancesacknowledgment setting of said information set by said electronic maildistribution section and said printing outputting section is memorizedin said administrator information registration section, and saidelectronic device has a control section making at least one of saidelectronic mail distribution section and said printing outputtingsection acknowledge update circumstances of said information based on anupdate circumstances acknowledgment setting memorized in saidadministrator information registration section.
 12. An electronic deviceconnectable to a network as claimed in claim 11 , wherein saidelectronic device is a printer device.
 13. An electronic deviceconnectable to a network as claimed in claim 12 , wherein informationabout said electronic device are programs such as a printer driver and afirmware mu only for printer devices.
 14. An electronic deviceconstituted so as to be connectable to a network to which a networkserver is connected, said network server which is capable of maintainingan information about said electronic device connected to said network ina state where said information can be updated, said electronic deviceconnectable to said network comprising: a communicators address table inwhich communication address information of said network server wasmemorized; a setting memory section memorizing an informationverification cycle verifying update circumstances of said information; anetwork access control section controlling an access between saidnetwork and said relevant electronic device; an updating informationcontrol section communicating with said network server located in acommunication address memorized in said communicators address tablethrough use of said network access control section based on aninformation verification cycle memorized in said setting memory sectionand verifying and controlling update circumstances of an informationabout said electronic device; means for communicating with said networkserver located in a communication address memorized in saidcommunicators address table through use of said network access controlsection and acquiring said information in a case where an informationabout said electronic device updated was verified in said updatinginformation control section; an updating information memory sectionmemorizing an acquired information about said electronic device; and aninformation updating processing section updating said information byusing an information memorized in said update information memory sectionin accordance with a direction of an administrator.
 15. An electronicdevice connectable to a network as claimed in claim 14 , wherein saidelectronic device is a printer device.
 16. An electronic deviceconnectable to a network as claimed in claim 15 , wherein informationabout said electronic device are programs such as a printer driver and afirmware only for printer devices.
 17. An electronic device constitutedso as to be connectable to a network to which a network server isconnected, said network server which is capable of maintaining aninformation about said electronic device connected to said network in astate where said information can be updated, said electronic deviceconnectable to said network comprising: a communicators address table inwhich communication address information of said network server wasmemorized; a setting memory section memorizing an informationverification cycle verifying update circumstances of said information; anetwork access control section controlling an access between saidnetwork and said relevant electronic device; a first information controltable in which an access date of an information about said electronicdevice and an update date of an information about said electronic devicewere memorized; an updating information control section communicatingwith said network server located in a communication address memorized insaid communicators address table through use of said network accesscontrol section based on an information verification cycle memorized insaid setting memory section and verifying and controlling updatecircumstances of an information about said electronic device based on anaccess date and an update date memorized in said first informationcontrol table; means for communicating with said network server locatedin a communication address memorized in said communicators address tablethrough use of said network access control section and acquiring aninformation about said electronic device in a case where an informationabout said electronic device updated was verified in said updatinginformation control section; an updating information memory sectionmemorizing an acquired information about said electronic device; asecond information control table memorizing memory addresses and datasizes of said updating information memory section; an administratorinformation registration section memorizing an identificationinformation and an electronic mail address of an administrator for saidelectronic device; an electronic mail distribution section distributingupdate circumstances of said information to an electronic mail addressof an administrator memorized in said administrator informationregistration section; a printing outputting section printing updatecircumstances of said information as well as an identificationinformation of an administrator memorized in said administratorinformation registration section; a control section making at least oneof said electronic mail distribution section end said priming outputtingsection acknowledge update circumstances of said information based on anupdate circumstances acknowledgment setting of said information set bysaid electronic mail distribution section and said printing outputtingsection memorized in said administrator information registrationsection; and an information updating processing section updating saidinformation by using an information memorized in said update informationmemory section in accordance with a direction of said administrator. 18.An electronic device connectable to a network as claimed in claim 17 ,wherein said electronic device is a printer device.
 19. An electronicdevice connectable to a network as claimed in claim 18 , whereininformation about said electronic device are programs such as a printerdriver and a firmware only for printer devices.
 20. A method ofinformation acquisition of an electronic device constituted so as to beconnectable to a network to which a network server is connected, saidmethod of information acquisition of an electronic device comprisingsteps of: a network server maintaining an information about anelectronic device in a state where said information can be updated; saidelectronic device communicating with said network server based on aninformation verification cycle which is set and said electronic deviceverifying and controlling update circumstances of an information aboutsaid electronic device; and said electronic device acquiring aninformation about said electronic device in a case where an informationabout said electronic device updated was verified.
 21. A method ofinformation acquisition of an electronic device as claimed in claim 20 ,wherein in a step of controlling said update circumstances, saidelectronic device memorizes an access date of an information about anelectronic device and an update date of an information about saidelectronic device, and said step is a step of determining updatecircumstances of an information about an electronic device maintained insaid network server based on said access date and said update date. 22.A method of information acquisition of an electronic device as claimedin claim 20 , said method comprising steps of: memorizing anidentification information and an electronic mail address of anadministrator for said electronic device; distributing updatecircumstances of an information about an electronic device to anmemorized electronic mail address of an administrator; and printingupdate circumstances of an information about said electronic device aswell as an memorized identification information of an administrator.